A Gordonville dog breeder on Wednesday signed 20 dogs over to the Humane League of Lancaster after he was unable to bring his kennel into compliance with state dog laws.
"They were a sorry-looking lot — cold, dirty and uncared for," Joan E. Brown, Humane League president, said Wednesday evening.
The dogs belonged to Aaron Lapp of 473 Centerville Road, Gordonville. League officer John Matrisciano was summoned by a state dog warden after three months of unsuccessful negotiations with Lapp.
"Conditions had deteriorated at the kennel, so we asked the Humane League to step in," said warden Diane Buhl.
The dogs are a variety of breeds, including Pomeranians, Yorkshire terriers and terrier mixes.
"The dogs were very cold. They were apparently kept in an outside hog house … including some mama dogs with some very young puppies, so it's not good that they were outside in this freezing weather," Brown said.
Some of the dogs were "extremely filthy and caked in their own feces," she added. "They were very sad and unkempt looking."
The dogs are mostly young and include two nursing mothers. The puppies are 2 to 4 weeks old, Brown said.
She is uncertain what charges might be filed against Lapp, given the ongoing negotiations between the breeder and the state.
"He did sign the dogs over to us, so that certainly is in his favor," she said. "But I'm sure there will be some ramifications."
The dogs were brought Wednesday afternoon to the Humane League's facility at 2195 Lincoln Highway East, where the staff and shelter veterinarian weighed them, vaccinated them and checked them for injuries, skin conditions and other problems.
"As far as I know, they were all OK," Brown said. "They certainly needed to be cleaned up, warmed up, vaccinated and all the things we do. But they weren't at death's door or in great physical distress."
Brown said the dogs will be made available for adoption as quickly as possible. The mother dogs and puppies will be placed in foster homes until the puppies are weaned and old enough to be adopted.
"We can always use foster homes, so if anyone is interested in providing foster care for needy dogs, they should contact us," Brown added.
The dogs also will be spayed or neutered, she said.
For more information, contact the Humane League at 393-6551.
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